Photographer's Note

On the way back from Race Track, we made a quick stop at the crater. It had been cloudy all day, and the light was really bad for good photos. So I had really low expectation here, and a crater is just a big hole on the ground anyway, I thought to myself. Well while we were there, the later afternoon sun peaks through just enough. The red soil in the crater and the some wild flower and plants on the black volcanic rocks are nicely illuminated. All together make a wonderful combination for a good photo. We didn't have time to go all the way down to the crater, so we just walked around it.

Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater located at the north tip of the Cottonwood Mountains 37°0′35″N 117°27′1″W / 37.00972°N 117.45028°W / 37.00972; -117.45028 that is half a mile (one kilometer) wide, 500 to 777 feet (150 to 237 m) deep, and 4-7 thousand years old (Native American artifacts in the area indicate that 6000 years is the most likely age although estimates of 2000 years are common). "Ubehebe" (pronounced YOU-be-HE-be) is a Native American word meaning "Big basket in the rock." The crater was formed when magma migrated close to the surface and the heat of the magma flashed groundwater into steam, throwing large quantities of pulverized old rock and new magma across the stony alluvial fan draped across the valley floor. The magma rose through a fault that lies along the western base of Tin Mountain (movement on this fault was responsible for uplift of the entire Cottonwood mountain range)

A vertical format for this landscape is a very good idea. Superb various colours very well collected. The depht of field is here incredible with differents various plans well delimited. Very nice but very impressive too. An interesting and very good photowork.
Have a good evening,
Roger

Your note is very interesting. I've never heard befor of this place, also from what i can recall never saw any pictures of this. Bad weather seems not to hold you back in making a very good pictures. Love all the colour contrast you found here. that little bush in front, how nice and how colourful.
Those soft clouds also work very well here...who needs a blue sky for this, not me.
Well done..!!!

Hi, Way. The sun rays struck some very interesting features in your image. The small shrub in the foreground that stands out very well against the dark volcanic soil and the walls of the crater with their warm colours. The grey background makes this even more agreeable to look at. Very good colours and contrasts.
Have a nice day,
Philippe

Hello Way,
Another cracker of a shot. A wonderful capture, the sun on the foreground plant gives such a boost to the image, so too the light on the crater and then the mountains in the background nice and dark, superb. I love the different layers of light, so much contrast throughout.
You have an excellent "eye" for a shot my friend, POV and composition are brilliant.
Regards
Peter

hello Way
the light on the red crater is superb,but what I like the most,this is the green plant of the foreground on the black ground!These lightened colours are standing out so nicely in the landscape in the shadow!This is splendid!
Regards
Pascale

Hi Way,
You're right, this is a very complex & unique composition; with its wonderful layers. The FG contrasts the green plant with the delicate detail of a plant skeleton. Then the dark FG and the cool blue and white mountains and sky provide a perfect frame for the hot colors of the crater. Very well done.

Hello Way,
Attractive green plants against the arid canyons, good pov to frame it with including many colorful layers create by the land and cloud, good intensive of color to show a colorful scene at a cloudy day, well done.
Ally

Amazing shot with so much depth due to the different layers. I really like the little green shrub, the dry shrub and the little flowers in the foreground leading the eye to the canyon and mountains in the distance. Great light, amazing colours and great details. Excellent work, Way!

Hello Way,
Such a nice image you present to us here...
The various layers that are succeeding here are giving an impression of relief enhanced by the fact that it switches from light parts to dark parts.
The lighting on the foreground and this cute little bush is perfect, as it is on this impressive crater.
You perfectly managed the light differences although it was certainly not easy being given the grey sky in the distance.
A master piece, stunning work from you.
I am so glad to have some time to be back again on TE and discover such great quality pictures, among which yours will always have a special place.
Have a great day.
Very best regards, Christian

Hi Way,
wonderful light you captured on the crater and bush here and what a great pov! I hadn't heard of the place either, but I'll remember it the next time I'm out there. Thanks!
Take good care,
Linda

Hello Way,
Outstanding colour contrasts as you can only find them in a volcanbic landscape. Light well mananged and the shadowed are well used to enhance the profile of the green and bare bushes i nthe foreground.
Well done.
Regards,
Paul

Hello Way,
very impressive the returning at the Death valley,with this crater to take one's the breath away.The good luminosity is enhancing the different tints of colors of the scenery.I like the good management of the light as the clarity of the foreground.Well done.

Hi Way,
There are sometimes small miracles which it is necessary to know how to catch in a dull day. This small miracle allowed you to make a really fantastic photo. The oppositions and the juxtapositions of colors in three horizontal shots are extraordinary. I like the golden red of the crater on the grey blue of mountains, I like the light which illuminates the dead shrub and the small green bush on the brown and black bottom of the soil. I think that you could even reframe just this small part and make make another magnificent photo also.
What a magic in the nature!
Congratulations! Have a nice day!
Diane
Sorry, I don't see that I don't have anymore smile. Nevermind, I put the photo in my favorites!

Hello Way! Today's weather reminded me of you ... and it RAINS but just a little, nothing serious. I am writing from the airport at Grand Junction/CO ;))) Having a great time so this is just a little break before heading out again, I am not missing TE much but it is a lovely way to have a break before the sun comes out. A wonderful picture you are showing to us, Way, an inspiration to go out and be 'in the field' myself. Love the warm light on the little tree and on the crater, I can even see a little flower if I am right. All my best from Colorado where the mountains hit the desert, a wonderful place so so beautiful ... Barbara.

Ciao dear Way,
beautiful masterpiece of lights and colors realized with an excellent sharpness. Amazing the contrast among the two bushes in the FG, one live and the other dead. The metaphor of the life. Compliments, you have done an image that gives so many feelings. BRAVO!
Ciao, have a beautiful week!
Paolo

From this pov it really looks like a big golden basket..good use of FG n BG to show how magnificent n big the crater is..nice sense of depth n I like the inclusion of the plants in the FG..well done.
Best regards, Atousa

Hello Way. Wow! Great light and colours. The low angle light has really bought out the textures in the far side of the crater. Well composed with good FG to add depth. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

Hi Way
How are you pal? You still posting top class shots since I went for a while. Beautiful light hitting death valley. This place is outstanding, that green bush really looks like it should not survive this harsh place. I like them cloud formations in the back also.
Cheers and good to see you again
Jim

Sabaidie Way
Light is a key element for landscape photography & here you got delicious light, thankfully, as your mentioned it was a cloudy day!! Love how light makes the bush in the FG glow as it grows on old black lave soil. The red coloured rocks with visible strata are lovely as are the hills seen in the BG in shades of contrasting blue. Composition is excellent with good FG & BG interest, centering on the crater.
Best regards
Angshu

Hi Way,
The light gives great colours to the crater. I love the contrast between the mineral atmosphere of this crater and the life that is symbolized by this small bush in the foreground.
Regards,
Olivier

the timing here is perfect, just another proof that for landscape photos the right light is 2/3 of what makes photo great. love the warm golden tones that bring ut the textures of the rocks, especcially against the smooth and cool sky. great shot, Way, I like it a lot.

Hello Way!
Wonderful picture with beautiful landscape!
The vertical format and the pov were great choices here!
Sharpness, exposure and colors are excellent!
The composition is the true highlight in this magnificent image!
TFS - congratulations!
Best regards,
Neyvan

Hello Way,
Though the sky does in fact looks dull with the warning of rain, you have captured exceptional light and the triad of plant life surviving on the rim of the crater. Very detailed image, Well Captured,
Steve

Hello Way,
The color palette is perfect in your shot. I think it is difficult enough to find such a beautiful composition in so deserted place. The result is great. Very artistic picture!
Best regards,
Sergiy

Just a hole on the ground? That's not a mild shot, no no no! The color explodes with the sun and the contrast with the shadow is eye-catching. I like very much your POV that includes the little bush, and the fire of the rock... Excellent management of light, once more.
Regards
Marine

OK, this is stunning. And somehow I missed it until now. (I've been cutting back on TE, but a shot like this could make me reconsider.)

Excellent use of layers (the photo kind, not the Photosthop kind), light and shadow. The lit bush with the shadows behind it is particularly good. Its colors, and the colors of the rock before and behind it, came out very crisp and strong. Also a great choice to go for a vertical frame.

A beautifully arranged image - you have 'seen' the colours beautifully and fully exploited the possibilities here - one of those images that it is possible to inhabit and take a walk where you walked .....I can feel those stones crunch under my feet!

Hi Way,
I really like how the bush seems to be illuminated and so does the crater in the rest of the darker surroundings making them really stand out brightly and eye catching. Wonderful colours throughout the three distinct layers. And perfect sharpness and clarity. Great.
Regards
Wanda

Hi dear Way, the way you have played with the light here is superb. It has brought out every texture and detail in this big basket of rock. You have used the bush in the FG to anchor the shot (your signature flourish) and lead the eye into that amazing mix of colour, texture and light. Great work. Have a wonderful and safe trip (wherever you are journeying to) I look forward to seeing your new photos when you return. And don;t worry, I haven't gone to the Dark Side and become a Morning Person - this will never happen :) Warm regards, Lisa